“We discussed all potential charges with the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s (Office), and first-degree assault is what was recommended based on the elements of the crime,” said Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit commander Capt. Loyd Baker.

Herren and Price threw a brick, estimated at about five pounds, from the Keene’s Mill Road overpass of Interstate 20/59 at 9 p.m. Sunday, Baker said.

The woman, 40, received injuries to her neck and chest when the brick broke the windshield of her vehicle. Her children were not injured. She underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition at DCH Regional Medical Center Monday evening. Her name was not released.

Investigators collected evidence at the overpass that they linked to the teenagers, Baker said without ­elaborating. They questioned the teenagers Sunday night, but didn’t have enough evidence to make arrests until Monday, he said.

The investigators spent Monday morning interviewing residents of the rural Keenes Mill Road. Witnesses provided information that led back to the teenagers, Baker said.

Herren and Price could face further charges because other vehicles were damaged, including a tractor-trailer that was struck by debris and a vehicle with a flattened tire. Baker said that his office received complaints Monday from other drivers who said their vehicles were struck Sunday night.

Authorities arrested the teenagers at Herron’s home on Keene’s Mill Road at 3:30 p.m. Monday. They are next door neighbors, Baker said.

One of the teens is home-schooled and the other did not attend school on Monday. They are both being charged as adults and were being held on $30,000 bonds Monday afternoon.

In 1999, University of Alabama professor Julie Laible was killed when three teenagers threw a 72-pound concrete rock from an overpass in Florida. Laible, 32, received a fatal head injury when the rock crashed through her windshield. The teens were found guilty of murder.